Lesson 24 Junior Year

Coaching for College Students

Lesson 24 Junior Year

Junior Year:  Getting closer to graduation.

Internship:  You should (must?) have an internship this summer.  Even if you did an internship last summer, it is vital to get one this summer. 

What to expect. Find an internship that matches you and your goals.  Yes, it might be nice to get one with a prestigious company; yes, it might be nice to get the highest pay – but find a meaningful internship.

Do NOT take an unpaid internship.  Yes, you can learn on an unpaid internship.   The author strongly feels that you should get paid.  When you get paid, the company expects you to deliver real value to the company.  For unpaid internships, you might get asked to do menial activities – because, after all, you are ‘free help’.  Paid internships help build character – show up on time, work hard, be of value. 

Get started early – and lean on your mentors and your network.  Ultimately you will decide on which company and where.  But you need your mentors and network’s support.

On the internship work twice as hard as other interns.  Come in early, leave late.  Develop new networks with the professionals at your company.  

Extras:

Approach your mentor to see if you can do a joint faculty/student academic paper for a conference or journal.

While the author is suggesting not to do an internship with a non-profit company, but it can also be beneficial for you to work for a non-profit.  It will broaden your horizon.

Approach your mentor or professors to be a teaching assistant.  To be remarkable, you need to be able to interact, to be independent and solve problems.

And ... it is time to give back.  In your clubs and organizations, step up to leadership roles.  Be a mentor to freshmen or others.  Sign up to be a 'big brother' or 'big sister'.

Assignment:

Who are going to approach for an internship? 

What project / paper / research will you work on your professor. 

What additional skills can you achieve this year?

Quote:  “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson